Machine for handling bricks.



R. C. PENFIELD.

MACHINE FOE HANDLING BRICKS Arvmmnou rum 2:01 6, 1m.

. Patented May If), 1910.

3 SHELTS-SHEET 1.

ATTORNEY R. C. PENFIELD. MACHLEE FOR HANDLING BRICKS. APPLICATION TILED NOV. s, 1008.

Patented May 10, 1910 1 I T 4 n y n m E w M A 0 m m I H H s a 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 10, 1910.

n 1 u v R. C. FENFIELD. mcmm: FOR HANDLING 1211mm. APFLIUATKCN -EILED NOV. 6, 1503. 957,368.

WITNESES U Nl'llED OFFICE.

RAYMOND C. PENFIELD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE I'OR HANDLING BRICKS.

Application fitctl November 6, 1908.

To all whomit may concern:

lie it. known that l. ltmxuoxn t. lnxrun, a citizen of the d luted States of America. residing at N w York eit v. in the county of New York and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful lmmovements in Machines for Handling tricks. of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a dcviee or inachinc for handling bricks. the same twin: of the special class wherein a eries of lilting members are interposed between the bricks of the lower layer of a mass of bricks set in a. prearranged order, which lower layer isspaced at )art to permit of this iutrmlu tion of the lifting devices, said lifting devices being provided with clamps which exert a )inching strain on the units of the basic layer so as to enable the latter to be lifted simultaneously with the lifting of the mas of bricks.

' he object of the invention is to simplify and perfect a device of this kind.

The invention consists essentially in a novcland ingenious mcrhani-m for attaining the end in view, which na-chaniszn is ditl'erem from any heretofore eutpltned. and it also (,Ullllll'iHRS essentially the ronstrm-tiou. arrr-mgement and combination of parts and certain details and peculiarities thereof. Substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved device for lifting bricks. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the devi e. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the lifting and clamping devices.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts through the different figures of the drawings.

As I have already suggested. the device to which this invention relates intended for use with :ijstack formation of bricks built with the members of the. basic layer spaced apart attuiiform or substantially uniform distances, so that the lifting means may be inserted between the members of the. basic layer for the purpose of raising the upper mass. while at the same time the members of the basic layer are gripped to enable said layer to be lifted with the rest.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ntented May 10, 1910.

S rial No. 461.367.

In Fig. 3 l. have represented at A a stack of bricks which have been barked up in the manner stated with the members of the basic layer spac d apart. 'lhis is ven simply b way of illu tration. in order to indicate the Practi al application of the invention.

The general framework of the machine may vary widely, and 1 do not wish to be restricted to any particular form. The specimen shown in the drawings consists of the inclined bars 1, 1 between which are the vertical center bars 2, 3. The inclined bars 1 and also the center bars .2 are securely bolted at their lower ends to a base bar 3 which is an elongated horizontal element. suitably shaped and constructed to perform the function of enabling certain of the mechanical features to be arranged relatively thereto. and to operate in connection therewith in them-annex which i shall presently relate. to the upper ends of the inclined bars 1, and also they extend above said bars; while to the upper ends of these bars 2 is secured rigidly a horizontal laterally-extending arm 4 which projects over the mass of bricks A The end of the arm 4 is bent downwardly 3, and to the lower extremity thereof i pivoted a lever t3. the opposite end of which is pivotally connected at. 7 to the upper end of a vertically movable frame 8. To the lever is pivoted a short vertical link i which is likewise pivoted to the lower end of a pull rod 10 working through a vertical guid 11 in the arm 4, said rod 10 being provided at its upper end with an eye 12 to which may be connected a lifting hook, crane, or othe: hoisting or sus )L'llaltlll means. whereby the entire device and load of bricks may be raised and moved about. The rod 10 has a vertical t'cctilincal movement. through its guide 11, and in such movement draws upon the lever 6 and raises 0r lowers the latter, the link 9 which is interposed between the rod 10 and the lever ti allowing the rod 10 to Lave this right line movement so that the lifting action on the arm 4: and the frame may be applied at a proper poin between the fulcrum oi the lever t3 and the g neral framework as well as the movable frame which, as we shall see, carries certain parts of the clamping mechanism at. the lower end thereof, whereby a pinching strain is imparted to the mats of the basic layer, and thus the lifting be performed The vertical center bars J are bolted .spread apart, in their movement swinging without disturbing the center of gravity of f the machine The lower horizontal bar 3 which is at the bottom of .he frame, as we have. seen, is provided with a series of vertical slots 13 through which operate wedge bars 14 that actto spread apart the mcmlwrs of the pairs t of clamps that grip the basic layer of bricks, said wedge bars 14 being carried by the veri tically-movable frame 8. Securclv fastened 5 to the base bar 3 is a se ies of lilting arms 3 or members 15 consisting of rectangular frames having an upper bar 16 and a bottom bar or foot 17. Pairs of side clamping plates 18, 1-8 are hinged by means of hinges 19 to the top bar 16. These clamping plates ar arranged to move horizontally. and grip against the adjacent bricks of the basic layer. I

"he detailed construction of the lifting and clamping devices is seen in Fig. t. These lifting arms 15 are secured to or made integral with the bottom horizontal bar 3 at points opposite the vertical slots 13, so that the wedging bars 14 which pass through the vertical slots 13 may enter be tween the clamping plates 18 just above the foot part 17, as seen in Fig. 4, and be in a position to act in conjunction with wedge on the hinged side plates 18. The top bars 16 of the lifting members 15 are calculated to rest beneath the second layer of bricks. and by lifting thereon Fig. 3) to raise the superposed mass. Further, these lifting members pass between the individual units of the basic layer, I have already explained, being of proper size to be inserted in the uniform spaces between the members of the basic layer; while the side plates 18 are adapted to be spread laterally for the pprpose of gripping or clamping the memrs of the basic layer by a inching train so that when the superposed mass is lifted by the power exerted thereon by the lifting members 15, the simultaneous pinching strain on the bricks of the lower layer, caused by the lateral action of the plates 18, will liftthe basic row also. On the inside face of each of the side plates 18, I place a number of wedges 20, preferably three on each inside face, those on one plate of a pair being inclined opp sitely to those on the companion plate, and being so placed that they will interlock as shown in Fig. 1. The upper edge of each of the bars 1-1 is Wedge-shaped, having inclined faces, and hence it is obvious, that-as said bars 14: lift. their upper edges will come into contact with the inclined faces of the wedges 20, and the result will be thatthe plates 18 will be on their hinges 19. These plates 18 are net erably thin pieces of sheet metal, and are adapted to spread easily and clamp tightly against the adjacent faces of the bricks. As

the wedge bars H drop back. the wedgeroviderl plates 20 likewise drop back into tieir normal po ition which is a vertical one. the

two plates 2.0 belonging to each lifting member being parallel to each other. asshown in Fig. 4. ()n the outside faces of the clamping plates 18, that is to say. the faces which come into contact with the bricks, and the faces which are opposite to where the wedge 20 are located, I find it convenient to. urc a number of horizontal fiat springs a, 21. there being. say. three on the out ide face of each plate 18. These springs ll are preferablv arranged equidistant from (Zlt'll other and they come into contact with the bricks when the clamping plates 18 are spread hltcrally. Their function is to increase tbe resiliency of the movable clamping plates and enhance the elastic and yieldiiig character of the clamping action. They are usually fa tened at one end, the other being left free to move.

The vertically-movable frame 8 may be constructed in any suitable manner to enable it to carry the movable wedge bars 14. One form of said frame includes the inclined bars 22 which are bolted at their lower ends to a horizontal channel bar 23 having parallel horizontal flanges 24 and 25. Between the bars are two vertical bars 26. '26. The inclined bars 2:2 are bolted at their upper ends to these parallel vertical center bars 26, which are located in proximity to the center bars 2, 2 to which the inclined bars 1 are secured. The upper ends E of the bars in are pivotally connected at 7 to the lifting lever 6. A strap 27 which is securely bolted to the vertical bars 2, 2 embraces the vertical bars 26 and allows the latter to reciprocate vertically therein when the movable frame adjusts itself during the operation of the machine. On said movable frame, moreover, is a horizontal projecting bracket 28 that supports an eye bolt 32 which is connected to one end of a vertical balancing spring 30, the other -end of said spring being fastened to another eye bolt 31 which is held in a bloclt-29 that is secured between the vertical bars 2, 2 ,as seen in Figs. 1 and 3. Both the eye bolts 31 and 32 are screw-threaded and hence are adjustable and are provided with nuts to hold them in any desired position, thereby enablin the tension'of the spring 30 to be regu ated.

\Vhen the lever 6 acts on its pivotal point 7 and lifts the movable frame 8, the result is to expand the balancing spring 30, and said 5 ring has a tendenc to restore the parts to tlieir normal position when the lifting agency ceases to operate.

The wedge bars 14 which constitute the means for spreading apart the two clamping plates 18. la-longing to each lifting member, are provided with right-angled .integral rods 33 which are furnished with in? fl? sl d irnsioncd l ants, All! on nd thc lmvcr ilkllllli a of tin: Rods 53 ill't 3iit ii-2;tmi in lite" llungcs and 13 ot" tho channcl bar 2-).

llrnrc it is obvious that when the lllnVztljit l'raniu is raisrd, the scrirs ol' wcilgc bars It will all be lifted, and "whom they lwgin .0 act against the \vcdgrs and tho rhinipiugg plains in, the springs wil bc comprcsscd so that. .ihc rods 3.; and thc Wc lgc ll -will hr yicldingly X'Jlfltl, tho ra-snh of which ill ho to spread thc nwnihci-s ot tin; clamp in dcvic! 3 apart. cla ti aliy 'l us. this inte-ipoaizion oi" the srrics of springs ;l':- rua s .hc clamping dcvlccs lo pnrl'orn: am won with an elastic or yielding rill t pin'iitting a compensation to take place rum spondingly with the thickness oi z'lic bricks in the lower layer, and the Width of thov spaccs bemoan them, it being rcinnnbcrcd 5 course that the lateral springs 24 on iii-E- ll l. snrr;

clamping members 18 contrihir a to the coinpieiencss of this elastic or yielding clamping vtlcc The operation of myimprovcd device for handling bricks w ll be obvious from tho foregoing description of the construction without the nerd of much additional detail.

When the lifting crane or hoisting mvchanism lays hold of the eye 1:: at the upper end of the rod 10 and liltsthc same, the. effect will be to oscillate the lover (I and lift the movable frame 8 sinnilianeously with the lifting of the main frame and the raising of the liltirnr members l5 against the'mas of brick. The action on the clamping.mcmbrrs 18 for the cxcrtion of a pinching strain a ainst the members of the basic layer talus PHXJE- automatically with Inc initiation of the lifting movement, and through the action of the lovcl b upon the movable frame 8. The sure and certain guide. 11 at a fixed point: in the length of the ri id arm 4 insures that. the eye 12 and tie suspension means should apply its lifting power always at the same Joint at the top of the main frame of the novice, this being accomplished through the Provision of the link 9 between the guided rod 10 and the lever 6. This arrangementenablcs the machine to be brought up against a prearranged stack formation of brick so that the lifting members 1-3 may be accurately and surely introduced in the spaces between the members of the lower row. hen the machine is not loaded it will ban in a vertical position in proper equilibrium, and when it is loaded it will not be dcficted from the proper vertical position which it must assume to carry the brick and keep the stack formation in a vertical position so thatthe arrangement of the parts thcrcof will not be disturbed daring transportation.

Having thus described my invcntiomwhat as new and dcsirc to secure by Letoporatc in connection with the clamping phues of tho lifting mmuhcrs, and means for sin; :liancously lifting the movable frame and the main frame.

.2. maa-hiuc for haudlin; bricks, comprising a vrrtirally disposal frame, laterall "ti-riding liftin members each having a pa ll" of clamping pliuw, a lator lly-cxtcnding arm carricd by the upper end of said l'ranic, a movable frame alongside of the lirst-im-uiinncd frame, a lever connecting the upper and of said movable framc with the outer and of the nppcr laterally extending arm, and moans on said arm for lifting the lever.

3. A machine for handlin brick, comprising a vertically disposed Frame, a laterally-amending arm at the upper end thereof, a iuvor pivoted to tho outcr end of said arm, a vcriicslly movable frame alongside of the tir t-mcntioncd frame, to the upper end of which said lever is pivoted, a vertically movable rod working 111 a guide in said laterally-extending arm, means conncotin the lower end of said rod with the said e er,

supporting means engaging the upper end of said rod, and laterally-extending clamping dcviccs at the lower end of the two frames.

4. A machine for handling bricks, compris w a vertically disposed frame, a second vertically movable frame alongside of the first, a series of lifting members carried by the lower end of the first frame and having expanding clamps, wedges carried by the vertically movable frame and operating t6 expand said clamps, and means for lifting the entire machine.

5. A. machine for handling bricks, comprising a vertically disposed frame 9. laterally-extchding arm rigidly attached to the upper end thereof, a lever ivoted to the outer and of said arm, a vertica ly movable frame alongside of the first frame and pivotally connected to the end of said lever, means for lifting said lover, said means working through a guide on the upper arm, a spring connection between the vertically movable frame and the first-mentioned frame, a

.series of lifting members adapted to be in- {arising a main frame, a series of lifting,

of the first mentioned frame, a series of ncent bricks of a i 0 frame alongside wedge devices, springs interposed between 5 said wedge devices and the movable frame i to irovlde means for compensating for bri s of varying thickness, a spring connected to the main frame and also to the movable frame, and a lever device acting on the movable frame, together with snspeir sion means for carrying the machine and its load.

7. A device for handling bricks. comprising a main frame, a series of liftihg members on the lower end thereof adapted to be inserted between adjacent bricks of a laycl, each lifting member having a pair of hinged clumping plates provided with wedges, a vertically movable frame, arms carried at the lower end thereof and cooperating with the said wedges, and a yielding connection between the main frame and the vertically movable frame, together with means for simultaneously lifting both frames.

8. A device for handling bricks, comprising a vertica ly disposed frame, a series of lifting members on the lower end thereof adapted to be inserted between adiacent bricks of a layer, a vertically movable frame, means thereon cooperatin with the said lifting members for engaging the material to be lifted, a yielding connection between the main frame and the vertically movable frame, and means for simultaneously lifting both frames.

9. In a device for handlin bricks, the combination with a vertica ly disposed frame, of lifting members at the base thereof, and a vertically movabe frame alongside of the first frame, the latter frame cooperatin with the lifting members for engagement with the material to be lifted, a spring con- I I l l E I I necting the two frames, and means for jointly lifting said frames.

10. A device for handling bricks, comm-is ing a main frame, clamping devices thereon, a movable frame alongside of the main frame, said movable frame luv-sing means cot'qicrating with the clamping devices, a

yielding cmmertion between the two frames,

and means for jointly lilting said frames.

11. A device [or handling bricks, comprising a main frame. a series of lifting membots thereon t'zu'll having a pair of hinged clanrhing plates provided with ncdgi'sm vertically movable frame, a series of wedge shaped arms carried thereby, and cooperating with the-aforesaid wedges, yielding means for supporting said arms elastically inthe movable frame, said means consisn ing essentially of a Spring for connecting the movable-frame with the main frame, and means for simultaneously lifting tle movable frame and the main frame 12. A device for handling bricks, comprising a verti ally disposedfra ne, a series of lifting members oh the lower end thereof adapted to be inserted betnccn adjacent bricks of a layema vertically movable frame, means thereon cooperating with the said lifting members for engaging the material to be lifted, individual yielding means interposed between said cooperating means and the movable frame so that means ma be rovided that eoim'iensate for bricks of various thickness and for varying spaces be tween adjacent bricks o a layer, a yielding connection between the main frame and the vertically movable frame, and means for simultaneously lifting both frames.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RAYMOND C. PENFIELD..

Witnesses:

FRANK PAUL, C. B. SCHRQEDER. 

